FG gives update on Leah Sharibu’s release

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday urged Nigerians to keep faith on the release of Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi Christian girl still in Boko Haram captivity.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in a statement said the government was still negotitating her release with terrorists. The Information Minister spoke when State House correspondents sought to get update on her fate.

“Tortuous negotiations are still ongoing daily to secure her safe release,”

He said.

The terrorists group had since February 19, 2018 kept Leah Sharibu after she was abducted along 110 schoolmates in Dapchi, Yobe State. Sharibu, whose 15th birthday was marked by her family on Monday, was not released alongside other Dapchi girls after she refused to denounce her faith and become a Muslim.

Residents of the Nigerian town of Dapchi are hoping for the release of the last schoolgirl kidnapped by Boko Haram, following encouraging indications from the authorities after the militants returned more than 100 youngsters they had seized.

Her released schoolmates said the girl, Leah Sharibu, is a Christian who remained in captivity because she refused to convert to Islam.

“There is so much expectation in the town following the news that the last remaining girl will be released,”

Kachalla Bukar, father of one of the schoolgirls recently freed, told AFP late Saturday by phone from the town in the northeastern state of Yobe.

“We were told she was on her way but she has not yet been brought,” said Kachalla, who is the spokesman of the abducted schoolgirls’ parents union.